- A man voiced-over clips of Big Show and Mark Henry’s collapsing of the ring (without showing the actual moment; rather the “before” and “after”). The voice-over asked what the future of the World Title is.

- “With Vengeance a trending topic in the WWE Universe…” began Josh Mathews. We couldn’t even get one sentence into the show without a Twitter reference. Teddy Long’s music played and he was in the ring. Long said the World Title is in a state of flux, and despite injuries suffered by both men at the PPV, Big Show and Mark Henry are in the building. Long said the future of the World Title will be addressed tonight. Before he could go any further, Christian’s music interrupted and he walked out. Someone or something must send a signal to Christian whenever the words “World Title” are spoken.

Christian said the Title situation will be addressed now. He said Big Show blew his opportunity at the World Title. “You suck” chants. Christian said he’s been dominating on Smackdown, but Long reminded him that he lost to Sheamus last time he was in action. Christian said he was resilient, the true measure of a champion. Good comeback. Christian challenged Long to find someone more worthy of a title shot than him. CM Punk’s music then played and he came to the ring. Michael Cole wondered what Punk was doing on Smackdown. Booker finally stood up for himself to Cole, saying he was “sick of” Cole. Christian said he wanted one more match, then asked Long what Punk was doing on the show. Long said since Raw has enjoyed having Smackdown superstars on the Raw Supershows, he pulled some strings to have Raw superstars on Smackdown. Punk thanked Long for having him and said it was nice to be a on a show with competent leadership. Christian laughed and said Punk must never have met Long. Punk said Teddy makes John Laurinaitis look so much worse. Punk said Laurinaitis makes Long look like FDR. Punk pointed out a “one more match” sign and Punk said he would like to see Christian get one more match, but complained about when he opens his mouth. Christian told him not to throw stones, as he reminded Punk about Punk leaving the company with the title earlier in the Summer. Christian said it was a joke that Laurinaitis is even considering Punk for a shot at Alberto Del Rio and the WWE Title.

Punk said he doesn’t waste people’s time bitching and moaning and bitching and bitching….and he repeated that word about ten times. Wasn’t Punk the one bitching in the Summer about his spot? Christian said, as the leader of Smackdown and the most respected man in the locker room, he told Punk to hit the bricks back to Raw. I feel like there are similarities in the heel characters that Daniels is playing in TNA and Christian is here. Fans chanted “CM Punk” as Punk feigned leaving. He turned back around and said the 10,000 fans in Houston seem to want him here. Punk said he bets those people would like to see him in a match…and they’d like to see him in a match with Christian. Long said it was on. “Holler, holler, holler” said Punk. Punk’s music played as he left the ring, while Christian and Long argued.

- The announcers discussed what happened on-camera, allowing Cole to use his new favorite line, “not for nothing.”

- Air Boom vs. Awesome Truth is up next. That’s a match that, if built correctly, could main event Smackdown, and it’s being thrown away here with no hype.

[Commercial Break]

- During Miz & Truth’s entrance, their attack on John Cena at Vengeance was shown, as was their beat-down of Cena on Raw. They also showed Cena picking The Rock to face Truth and Miz at Survivor Series. Cena’s spittle during the announcement was digitally removed.

1 – R-TRUTH & THE MIZ vs. AIR BOOM

Miz’s knee-lift on Kingston was the first impact move of the match, :36 in. Headscissors take-down by Bourne on Truth. Kick to the head, and Miz had to be chased back to his corner. That allowed Truth to knock Bourne to ringside. Miz took a cheap shot at Bourne while he was outside the ring. Strange seeing the babyface team tagging out of the lower right corner of the camera, rather than the upper left, where they are usually stationed. They went to break with the heels in control at 2:11 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back, 6:07 into the contest. Miz pulled Bourne up with a chicken wing, then tagged Truth. Some double-teaming by the heels led to a two-count on Bourne. Truth grabbed Bourne by the heel to stop him from making the tag. Bourne countered with an enziguiri. Tags were made by both men, and Kofi hit his signature spots. Springboard cross-body for two as Truth made the save. Running knee to the face by Bourne on Truth, but Bourne missed a cross-body onto Truth at ringside. Truth tagged himself in and they stopped Kofi with a combination of both men’s finishers.

WINNERS: Miz and Truth, at 8:23. I wonder if beating the tag champs will earn them a shot in the future, or if they’re too high up the food chain for WWE to worry about putting the straps on them.

Truth got the mic after the match and told the fans they should be booing themselves. He said they just beat the WWE Tag Champions, and this past Sunday, they beat CM Punk and Triple H. On Monday, they beat up Zack Ryder and whipped Cena. Miz said Cena had to get The Rock to help him at Survivor Series. Truth said Cena picked the only man on earth who dislikes him more than they do. Miz said if Rock accepts the offer and they destroy each other before, they’ll just finish things at Survivor Series. Interesting tact for WWE to face in having Miz and Truth not even bat an eye about the Rock returning to face them. It does help legitimize them in fans’ eyes though, as does all the wins they talked about in that interview.

- The World Title situation will be addressed tonight.

- Also, Christian and CM Punk collide later on.

[Commercial Break]

- The locker room backstage (Raw and Smackdown wrestlers) were shown watching the Bret vs. Shawn DVD promo aired. Daniel Bryan talked about being trained by Shawn Michaels. Tyson Kidd walked in and asked him what his favorite part of the DVD is: when Shawn cried in the beginning, middle, or end. They had an argument over who was better, with Kidd of course siding with Bret. Santino Marella stepped in and said they should settle it in the ring like Bret and Shawn did.

- Hornswoggle was dressed up as Zack Ryder, fist pumping and everything. Long was there too and he said it was a shame what happened to Ryder on Raw. Vickie Guerrero and her men walked up. Vickie said the attack on Ryder was just desserts for Long making Dolph Ziggler fight twice at the PPV. Vickie talked up Dolph, but Long said he didn’t put Ziggler in two match at Vengeance to punish him. He then put Ziggler in a match tonight with Randy Orton, and Vickie and Swagger are banned from ringside. The heels walked away distressed. The sax music played and Aksana walked up. Long said he’s missed Aksana and she asked him about the group he was just talking to. Long, flustered, dismissed Hornswoggle and told Aksana come to his office with him.

- The announcers talked about what a controversial week it’s been. Cole talked about how Kevin Nash assaulted Hunter at Vengeance, then at Raw. They showed what happened between the two on Raw. After the video, Cole said Hunter suffered a concussion and a fractured vertebrae, leading to him being out of action for at least six weeks.

- Wade Barrett came out for a match. It’s next.

[Commercial Break]

- Back from break, they showed an interview with Barrett conducted earlier. He said the Barrett barrage continues, as his opponent will be simply a casualty of war.

2 – WADE BARRETT vs. TRENT BARRETA

Barreta was already in the ring out of break. Hurricanrana by Barreta early on, but he walked into a Boss Man Slam. Barrett stretched the arms of Barreta, then caught him with a knee-lift. Knees to the face by Barrett, followed by a running boot. Outside the ring, Barrett clotheslined Barreta. Barreta fired back with a chops back in the ring. He hesitated, and Barrett kicked him in the stomach. Cole spent the match talking about his challenge with JR set for Monday. Wasteland finished things.

WINNER: Barrett, at 2:32. Good win for Barrett to continue his winning ways, but shouldn’t he have started with Barreta and worked his way up to a match with Daniel Bryan, rather than the other way around?

After replays, Cole made fun of Tony Chimel for apparently forgetting Barrett’s name during the announcement of the winner. They must’ve wild-lined it because it sounded normal to me.

- Orton vs. Ziggler is next.

[Commercial Break]

3 – RANDY ORTON vs. DOLPH ZIGGLER

Before the match could begin, Cody Rhodes walked out with his baggers. “This is a pleasant surprise,” said Cole. Cole then said Rhodes is coming to join them for commentary. The bell rang to start the match, and Ziggler and Orton fought over a collar-and-elbow tie-up. Shoulder knock-down by Orton, then a rear chinlock at 1:05 of the match. Rhodes said he wouldn’t field any questions from Booker. Cole had played up Booker’s hatred for Cody as Rhodes made his entrance. Ziggler with a headlock take-down. Two minutes in and neither man had gained full advantage. Another headlock take-over. Rhodes said he’d have to wear his mask “for the foreseeable future.” Roll-up by Orton for two. High knee-drop by Orton. Ziggler got his boots up in the corner on an Orton charge and took over on offense. Orton shook off Ziggler, causing Ziggler to run out of the ring. Orton chased him and even leap-frogged over Vickie (who was at ringside with Dolph) during the chase. Vickie verbally abused Orton, who stood there looking at her with wide eyes. They went to break at 5:01 of the match.

[Commercial Break]

Back at 8:32 of the match. European uppercut followed by a dropkick from Ziggler. Orton powered out of a rest-hold, but Ziggler planted him with a DDT. With Orton in a rest-hold, he had enough energy to yell for Vickie to “shut up!” Neck-breaker, lateral press for two. Ziggler to the top, but Orton crotched him. Superplex by Orton. No mention of the superplex that broke the ring at Vengeance. Orton made the pin, but only got two. Orton got the better of an exchange of rights in the middle of the ring, then hit all of his signature spots. Vintage Orton DDT. Ziggler dodged an RKO and superkicked Orton for two. Ziggler actually helped Orton slip out by leaning back too far while sitting on Orton’s chest. Booker smartly pointed that out. Sleeper was avoided by Orton, who then nailed him with the RKO.

WINNER: Orton, at 14:00. There’ve only been a few one-on-one encounters between these two, but it’s easy to tell they have great chemistry together.

After the match, and angry Rhodes held up a bag at ringside, then threw it down after Orton stared at him. The finish as then replayed.

- The announcers, on camera, talked about last week’s mask vs. mask match between the Sin Caras. They showed the finish of the match, and the de-masking.

- Sin Cara Negro was backstage, wearing a white, sleeveless undershirt and a bandana around his head. Matt Striker asked him how he feels after being disrespected and embarrassed last week. Cara asked Striker how he thinks it makes him feels. He spoke Spanish and said Cara took away something that was in his heart. He then got in Striker’s face and said it was payback time. He grabbed Striker by the lapels and asked if he understood.

- The status of the World Title will be addressed tonight.

- Christian faces CM Punk in the main event.

[Commercial Break]

4 – DANIEL BRYAN vs. TYSON KIDD

No entrance for Kidd. Kidd and Bryan began the match by continuing their argument from earlier. Kidd tried a Sharpshooter immediately, but Bryan took Kidd down with an arm-drag. Dragon Sleeper by Kidd. Cole said he had photos of JR training for the Cole challenge Monday night. Bryan connected with a running clothesline, then dropkicked Kidd in the corner. Booker again brought up Tim Tebow and how awesome his performance on Sunday. Cole said he’s just a nerd like Daniel Bryan. Action was fast and furious in the one. Another Sharpshooter attempt, but Bryan transitioned into the LeBell Lock. After a few seconds, Kidd tapped.

WINNER: Bryan, at 2:36. They fit a ton into the time allotted. Fast-paced match.

- They showed clips of John Cena getting his tag match granted, then the attack on Zack Ryder, and finally the main event from Monday night, with Cena’s post-match announcement. Mathews sadi Rock could accept Cena’s offer at the beginning of Raw tonight.

- Cole stood on the announce table and talked about his challenge from Raw. He said JR has accepted and showed “training” photos of JR, showing the same pictures he showed Raw. Was this really funny enough, even to Vince and Kevin Dunn, to show twice? Cole said he’ll reveal the details of the competition on Monday and said if he loses, he’ll quit.

- Big Show walked out in a suit. He’ll address the WWE Universe next. The status of Mark Henry, Show, and the World Title will be addressed therein.

[Commercial Break]

- They showed Big Show in the ring, then stills of the suplex heard ‘round the world from Vengeance. Mathews quoted WWE doctor Chris Amann saying both guys suffered significant strains of muscles and ligaments in their necks and upper bodies. “Oops, I did it again,” said Show. He said Henry was an out-of-control monster on Sunday, saying he never had a fight with someone that powerful, ever. He said Henry gave one heck of a good fight. Show said his philosophy is re-inforce the ring, and he’ll have at Henry one more time. He said he looked In Henry’s eyes and knows he can beat him. Show said that Long assured him there will be a rematch in the near future. Mark Henry’s music played and he walked out.

Henry got to the steel steps and picked up a mic. Henry said Show is not getting a rematch: He walked into Vengeance as champion and walked out as champion. He said he’s sore and beat up because of the ring caving in. Henry said Show is sore and beaten because he made him that way. But because Show is still running at the mouth, he didn’t do a good enough job. Henry said maybe if he puts his foot in Show’s mouth, that’ll stop it. Show readied for Henry and Henry put one foot in the ring, then stepped back down the stairs. Henry, in the aisle, held the title over his head and began to limp to the back.

- The main event of Punk vs. Christian is next.

[Commercial Break]

5 – CM PUNK vs. CHRISTIAN

Punk and Christian traded shoulder knock-downs. Heel kick by Punk for two, then he worked Christian’s arm. Cole talked about how John Laurinaitis does charity work on his time off. Flying European uppercut by Christian, but he missed a headbutt off the top. Punk set for the Go To Sleep, but Alberto Del Rio’s music played. Punk’s facial reactions while Christian was still in the GTS were funny. Christian backed out of the move and took Punk down for two. Ricardo Rodriguez and Del Rio walked to ringside as they went to break at 3:26.

[Commercial Break]

The show returned at 7:14 of the match. Del Rio and Rodriguez were shown watching the match intently near the announce table. Christian attempted to keep Punk grounded. Inverted DDT by Christian for only a one-count. Punk was thrown out of the ring after Christian did some old-fashioned gouging of the eyes and nose. Christian sent Punk head-first into the announce table, then back into the ring for again, only a one-count. Punk fought back with kicks to the head and both men were down, 9:30 in. High back body-drop by Punk. Neck-breaker found the mark for a near-fall. Punk rolled through a sunset flip and kicked Christian in the head. Punk turned his attention to ADR ever so briefly, and that cost him. Cross-body off the top by Christian, but Punk rolled through again for two. Springboard clothesline was turned into a bodyslam by Christian. The men traded finisher attempts, but Punk hit the running knee and the bulldog. Rodriguez got on the apron, so Punk went to ringside, which chased Rodriguez all the way up the ramp. Springboard clothesline for two. Rodriguez was back to distract the ref once Punk went to the top rope. Del Rio crotched Punk, who fell to the mat. Christian then set up for the spear. Sheamus then ran out to run Rodriguez off. His music playing and his presence distracted Christian, allowing Punk to hit the GTS and eke out a win.

WINNER: Punk, at 13:25.

Punk celebrated as the show came to a close.

What do you think? If you saw this show, we invite you to send your thoughts. Send your name, hometown, a 0-10 score rating the quality of the show, your picks for best and worst segments, and then a brief paragraph of thoughts on the show that we can publish in the Reader Reax segment later tonight or tomorrow. Send to pwtorch@gmail.com.

Greg Parks has been covering WWE Smackdown for PWTorch.com since January of 2007. Follow him on Twitter @gregmparks for live Tweeting during Raw, Impact, and PPVs, as well as other bits of wisdom. Comments, questions and feedback are welcome, and can be sent to g_man9784@yahoo.com.

He hosted the weekly Pro Wrestling Focus radio show on KFAN in the early 1990s and hosted the Ultimate Insiders DVD series distributed in retail stories internationally in the mid-2000s including interviews filmed in Los Angeles with Vince Russo & Ed Ferrara and Matt & Jeff Hardy. He currently hosts the most listened to pro wrestling audio show in the world, (the PWTorch Livecast, top ranked in iTunes)

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